1920-S Buffalo Nickel Value
The 1920-S Buffalo Nickel carries a current retail range of about $1.75 to $567 across circulated and Mint State grades. Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
1920-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $1.75 to $2.95 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $2.55 to $4.30 |
| Fine (F-12) | $4.40 to $7.45 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $8.00 to $13.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $14.50 to $24.50 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $28.00 to $47.50 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $56.00 to $94.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $112 to $189 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $336 to $567 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Current 1920-S Buffalo Nickel value
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1920-S Buffalo Nickel starts around $1.75. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $567. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1920-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1920
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 9,689,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Where is the mint mark on a 1920 Buffalo Nickel?
On a 1920-S Buffalo Nickel, the "S" mint mark of the San Francisco Mint sits on the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
Why the 1920-S Buffalo Nickel is worth money
The mintage of 9,689,000 puts the 1920-S Buffalo Nickel among the scarcer issues of its series. It is findable, but nice examples take patience, and the market prices that difficulty in.
Context adds the final layer to the 1920-S Buffalo Nickel. The 1913 Type 1, with the bison on a raised mound, was modified within months to protect the denomination from wear. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
Summary: the 1920-S Buffalo Nickel is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.